Welcomes to all Divers.
Stortford Divers and the British Sub-Aqua Club welcomes previous diver training by recognised organisations, whether recreational, commercial or military. Divers can join the Stortford Divers branch and enjoy diving with us within the recommendations of their existing qualification and BS-AC Safe Diving Practices (whichever is the more conservative).
Diving with Stortford Divers.
Qualified divers wishing to join the Stortford Divers but NOT CONTINUE their training with the BS-AC:
● The diver joins Stortford Divers and the BS-AC.
● The diver presents evidence of their alternative diving qualification
● The Stortford Divers, Diving Officer consults the ‘similarity table’ and identifies the alternative diver qualification with the appropriate BS-AC diver grade.
● The diver is then integrated into Stortofrd Divers and treated as a diver of that similar grade.
● The new member can apply for an optional 'Equivalency Card' from BS-AC HQ.
● There is no documentation to be issued, i.e., Qualification Record Book, training material etc. to the new member.
Divers will be expected to attend a brief 'Induction to the BS-AC' lesson based on parts of BS-AC Ocean Diver training programme – OT1 and OT4, which will describe how the Branch structure works, outline the aims, beliefs and function of BS-AC as the national governing body, what BS-AC membership offers and provide an overview of the BS-AC '88 Decompression Tables.
The Diving Officer, or Training Officer, may also encourage further theory study and skills practice to 'close any gaps' which might become apparent on review of qualifications and practical experience, such as ‘controlled buoyant lift.
Further Training.
Qualified divers wishing to join the Stortford Divers and FURTHERING their training with the BS-AC.
New members with other organisation qualifications are encouraged to continue their training and development as a diver within BS-AC, by training for higher qualification levels and by attending BS-AC Skill Development Courses (SDCs). Stortford Divers, or BSAC HQ, can tell you more about these SDCs.
Should a diver, qualified by another diver training organisation, wish to further their diver training with the BS-AC, the qualifications they already hold are recognised as a starting point for further training by the issue of a Statement of Alternative Training (SALT) page, issued as part of the training pack they purchase.
● To obtain furthering diver training with the BS-AC:
● Join Stortford Divers and the BS-AC (as already described).
● On request, Stortford Divers will order a 'Crossover Training Pack’ for the next BS-AC diver grade.
● The 'Crossover Training Pack’ will include the Student Notes and a BS-AC Qualification Record Book - with an extra SALT page to record the previous training.
● On completion of the course, the diver will be a BS-AC qualified diver at that new grade.
With this process, the NEW member may train for the next higher BS-AC qualification. The process has to assume that the person has only just obtained the certificate they hold. It cannot offer any credit for variables such as additional diving experience gained since the qualification was achieved, or training undertaken on incomplete courses. This process applies only to diving qualifications and not to diving instructor qualifications.